Mark Ghaly, M.D., MPH, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) secretary, has extended California’s indoor mask mandate by another full month. The masking requirement intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic now runs through February 15. While citing a recent surge in the state’s positivity rate to over 21 percent, Ghaly also noted data on […]
Original Articles
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Fed-OSHA seeks suggestions for strengthening VPP
Fed-OSHA is holding a stakeholder meeting July 17, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. The agency’s aim is to “reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth.” Fed-OSHA is […]
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Cal/OSHA Seeks Huge Penalties in Refinery Explosion
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health has cited ExxonMobil Refining for 19 alleged violations following an investigation into the February 18 explosion at the company’s Torrance refinery. The incident only slightly injured four workers, but investigators concluded that management had been aware of hazardous conditions at the unit in question, yet took no steps […]
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Standards Board Finally Gets Seats Filled
Gov. Jerry Brown has reappointed four current members of the Cal/OSH Standards Board and named two new members to Cal/OSHA’s rulemaking body. The appointments are being said to provide both stability and new faces to the board. The newly appointed members are Robert Blink, 62, of San Francisco, and John Sacco, 60, of Rocklin. Both […]
Curated Content Articles of Interest from Around the Web
- OSHA in South Carolina is investigating after 20-year-old Duncan Alexander Burrell Gordon, of Greer, disappeared while working at a recycling company.
- The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office also opened an investigation after Burrell was reported missing on May 5.
- Burrell was last seen during his work on the overnight shift at Industrial Recycling and Recovery, Inc. also located in Greer.
- The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office confirmed that DNA was located at the plant.
- The Legislative Audit Committee in Montana found that millions of dollars worth of accounting errors related to the allocation of COVID-19 funds.
- Committee members made the discovery after conducting an audit on the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
- Much of the audit focused on unemployment insurance during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
- The labor department didn’t “prevent, or detect and correct in a timely manner, several multi-million dollar misstatements in its accounting records related to the Unemployment Insurance program.”
- The full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will reconsider President Biden’s executive order requiring federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Biden’s proposal would require about 3.5 million government workers to get vaccinated, absent a religious or medical accommodation, or face discipline including termination.
- Most federal workers were vaccinated by December, but there was opposition to the mandate.
- Opponents said they would take their appeal to the Supreme Court if the 5th Circuit rejected its request for a rehearing by the full appeals court.
- OSHA is planning to extend the National Emphasis Program for Covid-19.
- The enforcement initiative was initially adopted last year, while the agency continues to work on permanent standards.
- The agency’s been attempting to finalize these standards within nine months.
- OSHA alsoissued an emphasis program on indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards.
News Digest 07-01-22 1315 OSHA (TEST)
South Carolina OSHA investigates man’s disappearannce
Montana finds millions of dollars in COVID accounting errors
Vaccination requirement on hold
OSHA takes more steps for COVID protections